Mike Smith
Andrew Michael Smith
Born: 1 October 1967, Dewsbury, Yorkshire
Major Teams: Gloucestershire, England.
Known As: Mike Smith
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Left Arm Fast Medium
Test Debut: England v Australia at Leeds, 4th Test, 1997
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(including 24/07/1997)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 1 2 1 4 4* 4.00 66.66 0 0 0 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 23 2 89 0 - - 0 0 - 3.86
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting 0 - - - - - - - - -
Balls M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 0 - - - - - - - - -
FIRST-CLASS
(1991 - 2002)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 143 190 54 1686 61 12.39 0 4 29 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 4027.2 937 12133 487 24.91 8-73 21 5 49.6 3.01
LIST A LIMITED OVERS
(1988 - 2002)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 228 112 66 487 26* 10.58 0 0 45 0
O R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 1764 7038 268 26.26 6-39 6 2 39.4 3.98
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
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Profile:
A left-arm bowler, Mike Smith is arguably the foremost exponent of swing
bowling in county cricket. Yorkshire-born, but unwanted by his home county,
Smith made his Gloucestershire debut in 1991, having previously represented
the Combined Universities. Of slight physique, possessing neither great
pace, nor the height at 5'9" to create awkward lift, he relies heavily on
movement in the air to trouble batsmen.
Taking 56 Championship wickets in an injury shortened season of 1995, Smith
won his county cap. He was selected for the England A tour of Pakistan
(1995-96), but a rib injury forced him home after he'd bowled just 22 overs.
The following summer he took 60 more wickets. His Test opportunity came
against Australia in 1997, the season his first-class tally rose to 83.
However, he could find no help on an uneven Headingley pitch. In his third
over he found the edge of Matthew Elliott's bat, but Graham Thorpe at first
slip put down the relatively simple chance. Elliott, 29 at the time, went on
to score 199 as Australia won by an innings to take a series lead, and Smith
was unable to take a wicket in 23 overs. His case wasn't helped as he batted
with timidity against an irrepressible Gillespie. He later confessed that it
was the only occasion all summer that he had been unable to swing the ball.
A key member of the triumphant Gloucestershire one-day side, Smith remains a
consistent performer at county level. Rarely loose, and always probing even
the best batsmen on good pitches at a pace described by Wisden as "skiddy,"
he is a West Country favourite, where the feeling persists that he was
undervalued by the English selectors.
It appeared that Smith had recovered from persistent injury at the start
of the 2001 season. He spent hours in an oxygen chamber and was deemed fit
enough to play in the early CricInfo Championship match with Durham. It was
to be the only first-class match he played all season. After a cortisone
injection to his injured pelvis and groin, and Gloucester fans were briefly
heartened when it was suggested that he was a potential starter in the
Benson and Hedges Final with Surrey. This proved to be hopelessly
optimistic, and there was talk that Smith might never play again.
Gloucestershire have missed his economical bowling in the one-day format
and the threat he poses in the first-class game. The situation improved
somewhat towards the end of the season, and signs are there that Smith could
be back to his best. Gloucestershire certainly need him. (Copyright CricInfo
January 2002)
Last Updated: Saturday, 09-Nov-2002 11:54:11 GMT
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